Have I been fired?

March 29, 2012 9:30 AM

On paperwork I am filling out for a new job, it asks if in the last 5 year I have been fired from any job for any reason. I was downsized/laid off a year ago. Is that the same thing as fired?
posted by random thoughts to work & money (13 answers total)

No.

"Fired" means you were dismissed for cause, because they were unhappy with you.

"Laid off" means budget reduction. It doesn't reflect badly on you.
posted by maurreen at 9:32 AM on March 29, 2012 [7 favorites]

No. Fired = Laid off for behavior/performance issues.
posted by LittleMy at 9:33 AM on March 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Yeah, being "fired" is punitive.
posted by griphus at 9:34 AM on March 29, 2012

Nope.
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:48 AM on March 29, 2012

Nope. You can say "I lost my job due to a reorganization within the company."

It's them not you. Good luck. Best reason to give actually.
posted by stormpooper at 9:50 AM on March 29, 2012

No. And answer "No" not "I lost my job because.."
posted by wrok at 10:03 AM on March 29, 2012 [5 favorites]

No.
posted by limeonaire at 10:05 AM on March 29, 2012

No, but you are going to gain credibility points by disclosing with the information that it was a layoff/downsizing. As in: "Never fired, but part of a group that was laid off due to company downsizing on x date."
posted by bearwife at 10:17 AM on March 29, 2012

(That "yeah" was agreeing with the above answers, not answering in the affirmative.)
posted by griphus at 10:23 AM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

No, but you are going to gain credibility points by disclosing with the information that it was a layoff/downsizing. As in: "Never fired, but part of a group that was laid off due to company downsizing on x date."

Do that in an interview if asked, but I wouldn't volunteer it unless asked specifically. They might chuck all applications that have anything other than a no. Or at least look at never fireds more closely first.
posted by inturnaround at 10:56 AM on March 29, 2012 [3 favorites]

Thanks for the answers everyone! It was the "for any reason" that made me overthink this.
posted by random thoughts at 11:08 AM on March 29, 2012

Nope.

As above, firing is punitive. A layoff is generally economic, and has no ill bearing on you.

You can honestly answer "No" to that question. Or mention in the notes section (if the application has one) that it was a layoff. Certainly tell the truth if it's asked in a job interview.
posted by tckma at 12:20 PM on March 29, 2012

No. Being laid is is not your fault. You get fired when you do something wrong.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:40 PM on March 29, 2012